M.S.406C1
Contents
Description
The M.S.406C1 is a rank I French fighter with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance".
The MS.406C1 is a good general fighter for newer players (though, experienced pilots should not discount this aircraft). This aircraft has a good climb-rate, is maneuverable and retains energy allowing for repeated dive and climb situations. This aircraft performs its fighter role, but with having a Hispano 404 cannon installed, it can also take on the role of a bomber-hunter or soft-ground target attacker.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 465 | 453 | 10000 | 21.0 | 21.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 300 |
| Upgraded | 502 | 483 | 19.1 | 20.0 | 15.4 | 12.3 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| X | X | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 756 | 320 | N/A | N/A | 270 | ~13 | ~9 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 310 | < 320 | < 330 | > 330 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour plating
- No armour glazing
- Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The M.S.406C1 is armed with:
- 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, nose-mounted (60 rpg)
- 2 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
The Hispano 404 is nose-mounted, firing out of the prop spinner while the two MAC 1934 are wing-mounted. If fired at the same time, the cannon will run out of ammunition before the machine guns will.
Usage in battles
The MS.406C1 retains its energy well and is best utilized for energy fighting or Boom & Zoom situations. This aircraft can be used for head-on attacks using its cannon, however, be careful as the MS.406C1 does not have any armour protection. It will be best to get a few bursts off at range and then manoeuvre out of the head-on. When using this aircraft in a bomber-hunter role, it is best to avoid flying towards the rear or sides of this aircraft as typically this is where most of the bomber's defensive weapons are pointed. It is best to come at the front of the bomber from either below or from above (make sure you have energy as if you are near stall speed, you will be an easy target for gunners) and make strafing shots and wait until you are out of gunner range to turn and attempt a second pass.
Mastering trigger control is crucial for aircraft with low ammo count, particularly those with 60-round drums. An interesting way to practice trigger discipline is to bind the keys for firing (usually RMB) and bailing out (usually J) together. This way you are forced to fire short bursts for no more than 3 seconds each time, or you will be bailed out. This can be very effective as short bursts within 3 seconds long are generally enough to cripple if not destroy a target, and the price for shooting longer than that is losing the chance to keep fighting, which is a lesson one will not want to learn.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Not controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Combined | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Retains energy well
- 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon
- Decent turn time, can almost catch its smoke trail without flaps
- Small target
Cons:
- Low ammo for both MG and cannon
- Controls lock up in high-speed dives above 480 kph (300 mph)
- Only two flap positions, up and landing
- Prone to catching fire
- Difficult to do severe damage when autocannon is out of ammunition or reloading
History
The first modern fighter of WW2 France, and their most famous combat plane. A first-class aircraft, it was only inferior in performance in French pre-war service to the D.520. A total of 1,081 were built, more than any other French plane except the Potez 63. The prototype (the in-game M.S. 405) first flew in August 1935, becoming the first French fighter to break the 400 km/h limit. In 1937, it was advertised at the Brussels Air Show as "the best fighter plane in the world." The fourth prototype would be taken into production as the M.S. 406, with 600 aircraft in 12 units at the start of the war, having been taken into operational service in December 1938. During the war, the M.S. 406 proved a fair match for the German Bf. 109: 150 M.S. 406s were shot down in the Battle for France, against 191 confirmed and 89 probable kills by the same make of aircraft. Another hundred were destroyed on the ground. Finland also purchased 40 before the war.
Notable pilots
-
French ace pilot René Challe's first confirmed kill happened while flying a M.S.406 for the French Air Force.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the aircraft;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
- other literature.
| Morane-Saulnier Aeroplanes (Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | M.S.405C1 |
| M.S.406C1 | |
| M.S.410 | |
| See Also | Valtion Lentokonetehdas |
| France fighters | |
|---|---|
| Dewoitine | D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373 · D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510 · D.520 |
| Morane-Saulnier | M.S.405C1 · M.S.406C1 · M.S.410 |
| Arsenal | V.G.33C-1 |
| Bloch | M.B.152C1 · M.B.157 |
| Caudron | C.R.714 |
| Sud-Ouest | S.O.8000 Narval |
| American | H-75A-1 · H-75A-4 · ▄P-39Q-25 · ▄P-40F-5 Lafayette · ▄P-47D-22-RE · ▄P-63C-5 · F-6C-10-NA |
| ▄F6F-5 · ▄F6F-5N · F4U-7 · ▄F8F-1B | |
| Other countries | ▄Seafire LF Mk.III · ▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · NC.900 |
| Belgium | ▄Gladiator Mk I · ▄Spitfire FR Mk XIVe |
| Netherlands | ◘Sea Fury FB 51 |
